Fernando Escalera-Serna
Bilingual Coach (English/Spanish) · Autism Spectrum & Neurodiversity · BCBA, M.Ed.
I'm Fernando Escalera-Serna. I coach teens (16+) and adults on the autism spectrum or who are neurodivergent, in English and in Spanish, wherever you are.
I bridge communication gaps so every family gets support that fits their culture, their language, and their goals.
My Approach:
Culturally responsive coaching
Trauma-informed care
Strength-based and person-centered
Experience & Credentials:
More than ten years supporting children, teens, and young adults on the autism spectrum, with a master's in behavior analysis and BCBA certification.
Worked with clients ages 3 to 24 at home, at school, in clinics, and online, with expertise in early childhood, social skills, emotional regulation, and supporting families through challenging moments.
Outside of Work:
When I'm not working with clients, you'll find me walking our dogs or visiting the beach with my wife.
Coaching for teens and adults on the autism spectrum, and the families who love them, in the language you actually think in.
A lot of the people I work with have spent years explaining themselves in a second language, to systems that weren't built for them. Some were diagnosed late, after a lifetime of masking. Some are finishing school and wondering what comes next. Some are the parents, trying to figure out how to support an adult child instead of managing a kid.
Coaching with me is practical and collaborative. You set the goals. We build systems that fit how your brain actually works: for daily routines, work and school, independence, relationships, and the conversations that are hard to have.
Why bilingual matters
Autism looks different when it lives between two cultures. Many of my clients grew up in families where autism wasn't talked about, or where independence and staying close to family pull in opposite directions. I'm a dual Mexican-U.S. citizen, and I understand both of those worlds from the inside. We can work in whichever language feels most like you, and switch whenever we need to.
Families are welcome
I also coach parents of children of any age on the autism spectrum or who are neurodivergent, and whole families together. In many households autism is a family matter, so family sessions can sit alongside an adult's own coaching, always with their consent and with their goals at the center.
My background
I've spent more than ten years working with children, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum. I'm a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a master's in behavior analysis, and I've worked with clients ages 3 to 24 at home, at school, in clinics, and online. Coaching is a separate service from behavior analysis: it's guided by your goals, not a treatment plan.
Online all year, together in person
Coaching happens online year-round, so we can work together from anywhere. For many clients, the goals that matter most happen out in the world: eating at a restaurant, getting through an airport, joining a group outing, making small talk with someone new.
So we practice. First we plan and rehearse in coaching. Then, especially in summer, we host small, facilitated practice outings where you can try those skills in real places, with support nearby and an easy way to step away. Afterward, we talk through what went well and what to adjust. If you don't live near an outing, you can do your own with me available by phone or video.
